Ronn Owens says he has Parkinson's disease

Owens, 68, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2001. He said he was prompted to go public with his condition after Robin Williams' wife disclosed the actor and comedian had the disease, SFGate reported. Her disclosure came a few days after Williams committed suicide. "I felt it was important to tell people that you can have it like I have for 12 ½ years and not be severely impacted by it," he said. "It's possible, and it's not a death sentence."

Owens said his close friends and family know about his condition, which he's kept in check with medication.

COURTESY OF RONN OWENS
Longtime Bay Area radio personality Ronn Owens, of KGO, has disclosed he has Parkinson's disease.

"The main reason that I didn't want to come out, it's twofold," he reportedly told SFGate last week, from his KGO 810-AM studio. "One, I just cannot stand the thought of people feeling sorry for me. And the other, which is more of a factor with me, is that I don't want to be defined" by Parkinson's.

The disease is a degenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system. There's no known cure and the severity of the illness varies, depending on the person.

Owens has six months left on his most recent contract with KGO, which has an option for another year.